Pakistan’s selectors have made a number of changes to the women’s team ahead of this month’s tour of Sri Lanka, which includes three ICC Women’s Championship ODIs and three T20Is in Hambantota from 23 July to 4 August.

Pakistan’s highest-ranked bowler Sadia Iqbal will miss the tour because of a knee injury, while Muneeba Ali Siddiqui will captain the T20I side in the absence of Fatima Sana, who will be busy in her maiden season of The Hundreds.

Six players – Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Natalia Pervaiz and Rameen Shamim.- have been dropped from the side that played at the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Momina Riasat and Umm-e-Hani, both part of the World Cup reserves, have been named in the T20I squad, along with uncapped duo Eman Naseer and Maham Anees, plus Shawaal Zulfiqar and Humna Bilal.

Amber Kainat, who was also among the World Cup reserves, has not made the cut this time. Waheeda Akther, whose only ODI appearance came in 2023 against South Africa, has been recalled.

The ODI side sees fewer changes. Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Natalia Pervaiz and Rameen Shamim, who were part of the ODI series against Zimbabwe last month, have been dropped. They have been replaced by uncapped Maham Anees, along with Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akther and Saira Jabeen.

Ten players have been picked for both formats: Ayesha Zafar, Maham Anees, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Saira Jabeen, Tasmia Rubab, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akther.

Despite the volume of changes, none of Pakistan’s Under-19 squad members have been included in either side. A tour like this could have given some of the younger players an early taste of international cricket, offering a chance to train, compete and get used to the demands of the international game alongside the senior squad. Their continued absence means that opportunity has, for now, gone begging.

The ODIs will be played on 23, 25 and 28 July, followed by the T20Is on 31 July, 2 and 4 August.

PAKISTAN SQUADS FOR SRI LANKA TOUR:

ODI- Fatima Sana (captain), Ayesha Zafar, Gull Feroza, Maham Anees, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Sadaf Shamas, Saira Jabeen, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akther

T20I – Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (captain), Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Humna Bilal, Maham Anees, Momina Riasat, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akther